Dynamic allocation of communication resources in a wireless system

ABSTRACT

A method of receiving information by a wireless communication device is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of wireless subframes at a periodic interval, wherein an interval duration of the periodic interval is greater than a duration of each of the plurality of wireless subframes. The method further includes determining for each wireless subframe of the plurality whether the wireless subframe includes a grant resource that indicates that a resource unit pattern of a plurality of selectively assignable resource unit patterns of resource units of the subframe includes information for the communication device. A method of transmitting information by the wireless communication device is also provided.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to co-ownedand co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/014,530 entitled“DYNAMIC ALLOCATION OF COMMUNICATION RESOURCES IN A WIRELESS SYSTEM”,filed Jan. 15, 2008, the foregoing incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field

This disclosure relates generally to communication systems and methods,and more specifically, to systems and method for dynamic allocation ofcommunication resources.

Related Art

Conventional communication systems involve a user equipmentcommunicating with base stations using uplink and downlink channels.User equipments, such as mobile phones, PDAs, or other types of mobiledevices have limited battery power. Conservation of the battery power isan important objective in implementing communication systems. Varioustechniques are used in such communication systems to conserve power. Forexample, the eNodeB scheduler, coupled to one more base stations, mayschedule certain communication resources for a particular userequipment. The user equipment may then need to listen to a controlchannel at only those times for which it is scheduled to receive ortransmit on a shared communication channel. At other times, the userequipment may go to sleep and thus conserve power. In conventionalcommunication systems, however, the scheduling of communicationresources is not frequency selective. Instead, the user equipment inresponse to a scheduling request is granted a particular communicationresource associated with a certain frequency.

The inability of conventional communication systems to allocatefrequency resources dynamically results in sub-optimal performance. Forexample, the eNodeB scheduler may fail to schedule a particular userequipment for use of a frequency resource that results in maximum gainfor that particular user equipment. Accordingly, there is a need forsystems and methods for dynamic allocation of communication resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and is notlimited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicatesimilar elements. Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicityand clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary communication system;

FIG. 2 shows exemplary set of messages that may be exchanged between auser equipment and other devices in the exemplary communication systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows exemplary subframes being transmitted on an uplinktransmission and a downlink transmission;

FIG. 4 shows exemplary details of the subframes of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows exemplary details of the subframes of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method of communicatinginformation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a method of receiving information by a wirelesscommunication device is provided. The method includes receiving a firstsubframe of information by the communication device at a first time, thefirst subframe indicating an occurrence of a second subframe to bereceived at a second time occurring subsequently. The method furtherincludes receiving the second subframe of information by thecommunication device at the second time, the second subframe includingfirst control channel resource elements and first shared channelresource elements conveyed by a first plurality of subcarrierfrequencies over a first plurality of time slots, each of the firstshared channel resource elements being defined by a single time slot ofthe first plurality of time slots and a single subcarrier frequency ofthe first plurality of subcarrier frequencies of the first subframe, thewireless communication device decoding at least one of the first controlchannel resource elements to determine if the first control channelresource elements include a grant resource that indicates that aresource element pattern of the first shared channel resource elementsincludes information directed for the wireless communication device, theresource element pattern being of a first plurality of selectivelyassignable resource element patterns of the first shared channelresource elements.

The method further includes receiving a third subframe of information bythe communication device at a third time, the third time beingsubsequent to the second time, the third subframe including secondcontrol channel resource elements and second shared channel resourceelements conveyed by a second plurality of subcarrier frequencies over asecond plurality of time slots, each of the second shared channelresource elements being defined by a single time slot of the secondplurality of time slots and a single subcarrier frequency of the secondplurality of subcarrier frequencies of the third subframe, the wirelesscommunication device decoding at least one of the second control channelresource elements to determine if the second control channel resourceelements includes a grant resource that indicates that a resourceelement pattern of the second shared channel resource elements includesinformation directed for the wireless communication device, the resourceelement pattern being of a second plurality of selectively assignableresource element patterns of the second shared channel resourceelements, wherein the second time and the third time are separated by afirst time interval, the first time interval is greater than a durationof the second subframe and greater than a duration of the thirdsubframe.

In another aspect, a method of receiving information by a wirelesscommunication device is provided. The method includes receiving aplurality of wireless subframes at a periodic interval, wherein aninterval duration of the periodic interval is greater than a duration ofeach of the plurality of wireless subframes. The method further includesdetermining for each wireless subframe of the plurality whether thewireless subframe includes a grant resource that indicates that aresource unit pattern of a plurality of selectively assignable resourceunit patterns of resource units of the subframe includes information forthe communication device.

In yet another aspect, a method of transmitting information is provided.The method includes transmitting a plurality of wireless subframes at aperiodic interval, wherein each of the plurality of wireless subframesis intended to be received by a wireless communication device, whereinan interval duration of the periodic interval is greater than a durationof each of the plurality of wireless subframes, each subframe of theplurality of wireless subframes including a plurality of selectivelyassignable resource element patterns, each subframe of the plurality ofwireless subframes including a plurality of grant resources, wherein ifa subframe includes information for the wireless communication device, agrant resource of the plurality of grant resources indicates whichresource element pattern of the plurality of selectively assignableresource element patterns of that subframe includes information for thewireless communication device.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary communication system 100. Exemplarycommunication system 100 may be a 4G mobile communication system or anyother communication system in which a scheduler is used to allocateresources to mobile devices. Exemplary communication system 100 mayinclude user equipments (103 and 105, for example), which maycommunicate with base stations (109, 111, and 113, for example). Userequipment 103 may be a wireless communication device, such as a mobilephone, a personal digital assistant, or any other wireless device. Eachbase station may serve multiple user equipments. Communication system100 may further include an evolved NODE-B (also referred to as aneNode-B) 107 including a scheduler. eNode-B 107 may be coupled toseveral base stations and may control one or more base stations. eNodeB107 may be configured to allocate resources among control and datachannels for both uplink and downlink transmissions. As used herein,uplink transmissions are transmissions from UEs (103, for example) tobase stations (111, for example) and downlink transmissions are frombase stations (111, for example) to UEs (103, for example). eNode-B 107may schedule resources for UEs based on currently available resources(subcarriers and time slots, for example), channel quality, UEcapabilities, type of data transfer, quality of service requirements,and/or other constraints, eNode-B 107 and UEs may communicate using 3GPPLong Term Evolution (LTE) cellular technology. The physical layercorresponding to LTE may employ orthogonal frequency division multipleaccess (OFDMA) techniques and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)techniques.

FIG. 2 shows exemplary set of messages that may be exchanged between auser equipment and other devices in the exemplary communication systemof FIG. 1. By way of example, UE 105 may send a scheduling request viamessage 201 to eNode-B 107. In response to the scheduling request, attime t=0, eNode-B 107 may respond via message 203 by providing adownlink grant (DL Grant [Dynamic Frequency Resource]) and an uplinkgrant (UL Grant [One-time Time Persistent, Dynamic Frequency Resource])to UE 105. At a later time, for example, at time t=1 ms, UE 105 maydecode downlink voice grant and measure channel feedback information(CFI). At a later time, for example, at time t=2 ms, UE 105 may decodedownlink data grant and decode data in case of a data grant. At a latertime, for example, at time t=3 ms, UE 105 may transmit via message 205,voice and send control information, such as CFI and Ack/Nack to eNode-B107. Between time t=4 ms and time t=20 ms, to conserve power, UE 105 maybe turned off or may be switched into a low power mode. UE 105 mayinclude various circuitry, such as receiving circuitry and userinterface circuitry. In one embodiment, only the receiving circuitry maybe turned off or put into low power mode. At time t=20 ms, UE 105 mayreceive via message 207 a downlink grant (DL Grant [Dynamic FrequencyResource]) and an uplink grant (UL Grant [One-time Time Persistent,Dynamic Frequency Resource]) from eNode-B 107. At a later time, UE 105may decode downlink voice grant and measure channel feedback information(CFI). At a later time, UE 105 may decode downlink data grant and decodedata in case of a data channel grant. At a later time, for example, attime t=23 ms, UE 105 may transmit via message 209, voice and sendcontrol information, such as CFI and Ack/Nack to eNode-B 107. AlthoughFIG. 2 shows a specific sequence of messages, other sequences ofmessages could also be used. Moreover, although FIG. 2 shows specificmessages being exchanged, other messages may also be exchanged.

FIG. 3 shows exemplary subframes being transmitted on an uplinktransmission and a downlink transmission between a wirelesscommunication device, for example UE 103 and a scheduler, for example,eNode-B 107. UE 103 may receive a subframe 301. Consistent with oneembodiment, subframe 301 may be a subframe of a Long Term Evolution(LTE) frame and thus may be 1 ms in duration. Subframe 301 may have astructure consistent with the LTE or any other suitable frame structure.Subframe 301 may include resource elements, described further withrespect to FIGS. 4 and 5. Subframe 301 may include a portion 313,including resource elements corresponding to the physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) mapped to up to the first three OFDM symbols.The remaining portion of subframe 301 may include resource elementscorresponding to the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Subframe301 may also indicate a second subframe to be received at a second timeoccurring subsequently. In one embodiment, UE 103 thereby receives apersistent or a semi-persistent grant.

In one embodiment, subsequent to the receipt of subframe 301, the UE(105 of FIG. 1, for example) may receive subframe 319. Subframe 319 mayinclude a portion 321, including resource elements corresponding to thephysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) mapped to up to the firstthree OFDM symbols. These resource elements may convey informationregarding the downlink data grant. The remaining portion of subframe 319may include resource elements corresponding to the physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH). The resource elements may be selectivelyassigned based on any pattern. By way of example, the second subframemay include control channel resource elements (for example, PDCCHrelated resource elements) and shared channel resource elements (forexample, PDSCH related resource elements) conveyed by a plurality ofsubcarrier frequencies over a plurality of time slots, each of theshared channel resource elements may be defined by a single time slot ofthe plurality of time slots and a single subcarrier frequency of theplurality of subcarrier frequencies of the subframe. Grant resources,such as downlink data grants may provide information to a UE, such as UE103, indication as to which resource element pattern of a plurality ofselectively assignable resource element patterns of a particularsubframe include information for that UE.

The UE may decode at least one of the control channel resource elementsto determine if the control channel resource elements include a grantresource that indicates that a resource element pattern of the sharedchannel resource elements includes information directed for the wirelesscommunication device. The UE may also decode the resource elementpattern of the shared channel resource elements to obtain informationregarding a voice call, for example.

At a subsequent time, an interval t₁ following the receipt of subframe301, UE 103 may receive another subframe 303. Subframe 303 may alsoinclude resource elements, described further with respect to FIGS. 4 and5. Subframe 303 may include a portion 315, including resource elementscorresponding to the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) mapped toup to the first three OFDM symbols. The remaining portion of subframe303 may include resource elements corresponding to the physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH). As explained above with respect to subframes 301and 319, subsequent to receipt of subframe 303, the UE may receiveanother subframe (not shown) including a portion similar to portion 321.This portion may include resource elements corresponding to the physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH) mapped to up to the first three OFDMsymbols. These resource elements may convey information regarding thedownlink data grant. The remaining portion of this subframe may includeresource elements corresponding to the physical downlink shared channel(PDSCH). The resource elements may be selectively assigned based on anypattern. By way of example, the third subframe may include controlchannel resource elements (for example, PDCCH related resource elements)and shared channel resource elements (for example, PDSCH relatedresource elements) conveyed by a plurality of subcarrier frequenciesover a plurality of time slots, each of the shared channel resourceelements may be defined by a single time slot of the plurality of timeslots and a single subcarrier frequency of the plurality of subcarrierfrequencies of the subframe. The UE may decode at least one of thecontrol channel resource elements to determine if the control channelresource elements include a grant resource that indicates that aresource element pattern of the shared channel resource elementsincludes information directed for the UE. The resource element patternmay be of a plurality of selectively assignable resource elementpatterns of the shared channel resource elements. Additionally and/oralternatively, the resource element pattern may be any one of thepatterns discussed above and/or below with respect to subframe 301.

At a subsequent time, an interval t₁ following the receipt of subframe303, UE 103 may receive another subframe 305. Subframe 305 may alsoinclude resource elements, described further with respect to FIGS. 4 and5. Subframe 305 may include a portion 317, including resource elementscorresponding to the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) mapped toup to the first three OFDM symbols. The remaining portion of subframe305 may include resource elements corresponding to the physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH).

UE 103 may transmit subframes 307, 309, and 311 on the uplinktransmission link as a result of persistent uplink grant. Although notshown in FIG. 3, each of subframes 307, 309, and 311 may be followed bya subframe including data mapped to the physical uplink shared channel(PUSCH). In one embodiment, the UE may transmit subframe 307 at a timebetween the first time (the first time interval t₁) and the second time(the second time interval t₁). The third subframe (311, for example) mayinclude a channel quality indicator. UE 103 may also transmit subframe309 including shared channel resource elements including selectivelyassignable resource element patterns. Indeed, any of the resourceelement patterns explained above and/or below with respect to downlinkgrants may be used for uplink grants, as well. The UE may transmitsubframe 309 at a time between the second time and a third time. The UEmay transmit information concerning a voice call, for example, as partof these subframes.

FIG. 4 shows exemplary details of the subframes of FIG. 3, includingresource element patterns. Subframe 301 may include a portion 313,including resource elements corresponding to the physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) mapped to up to the first three OFDM symbols. Byway of example, FIG. 4 shows resource elements corresponding to PDCCHbeing mapped on all of the resource elements corresponding to the firstthree OFDM symbols. The remaining portion of subframe 301 may includeresource elements corresponding to the physical downlink shared channel(PDSCH). FIG, 4 shows resource elements corresponding to a row 401 ofresource elements being mapped to physical downlink shared channel(PDSCH). The resource element pattern may be one of a plurality ofselectively assignable resource element patterns of the shared channelresource elements (patterns of PDSCH resource elements, for example).The selectively assignable resource element patterns may includeresource elements defined by a single subcarrier frequency of aplurality of subcarrier frequencies. Alternatively and/or additionally,the selectively assignable resource element patterns may includeresource elements defined by a single subcarrier frequency of aplurality of subcarrier frequencies across all time slots of the sharedchannel resource elements. Although FIG. 4 shows resource elementscorresponding to the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) mapped tothe first three OFDM symbols, they may be mapped to up to fewer or moreOFDM symbols.

Referring still to FIG. 4, subframe 307 may include resource elementsmapped to physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), demodulationreference signal (DMRS), and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Theresource elements mapped to the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)are shown by symbol D.

FIG. 5 shows exemplary details of the subframes of FIG. 3, includingadditional resource element patterns. Subframe 303 may include a portion315, including resource elements corresponding to the physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) mapped to up to the first three OFDM symbols.FIG. 5 shows resource elements mapped in a frequency hopped fashion(501) to physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Although FIG. 5 showsa specific frequency hopped mapping any other suitable mapping may alsobe used. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, an exemplary resource element patternmay include a resource element defined by a first subcarrier frequencyof a first plurality of subcarrier frequencies at a first time slot of afirst plurality of time slots and no resource elements defined by asecond subcarrier frequency of the first plurality of subcarrierfrequencies at the first time slot, and a second resource elementdefined by the second subcarrier frequency of the first plurality ofsubcarrier frequencies at a second time slot of the first plurality oftime slots and no resource element defined by the first subcarrierfrequency at the second time slot. Although FIG. 5 shows resourceelements corresponding to the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)mapped to the first three OFDM symbols, they may be mapped to up tofewer or more OFDM symbols.

Referring still to FIG. 5, subframe 309 may include resource elementsmapped to physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), demodulationmodulation reference signal (DMRS), and physical uplink shared channel(PUSCH). The resource elements mapped to the physical uplink sharedchannel (PUSCH) are shown by symbol D.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for an exemplary method of communicatinginformation by a wireless communication device, such as anyone of UEs103 and 105 of FIG. 1. As part of step 601, UE 103 may receive a firstsubframe (301 of FIG. 3, for example). As explained above with respectto FIG. 3, subframe 301 may include a first control channel resourceelements (resource elements corresponding to portion 313, for example)and first shared channel resource elements (any of the resource elementsin the remaining portion of subframe 301, for example). The resourceelements may be conveyed by subcarriers corresponding to an OFDMAsignal, for example. In one embodiment, resource elements may beconveyed by subcarrier frequencies at each time slot of a plurality oftime slots. The resource elements corresponding to the physical shareddata channel may have any pattern, for example, a row of resourceelements may correspond to the physical shared data channel.Alternatively, a frequency hopped pattern of resource elements maycorrespond to the physical shared data channel. By way of example, thefirst shared channel resource elements may be defined by a single timeslot of the first plurality of time slots and a single subcarrierfrequency of the first plurality of subcarrier frequencies of the firstsubframe.

As part of step 603, UE 103 may receive a second subframe (303 of FIG.3, for example). As explained above with respect to FIG. 3, subframe 303may include a first control channel resource elements (resource elementscorresponding to portion 313, for example) and first shared channelresource elements (any of the resource elements in the remaining portionof subframe 303, for example).

As part of step 605, UE 103 may receive a third subframe (305 of FIG. 3,for example). As explained above with respect to FIG. 3, subframe 305may include a first control channel resource elements (resource elementscorresponding to portion 313, for example) and first shared channelresource elements (any of the resource elements in the remaining portionof subframe 305, for example).

Some of the above embodiments, as applicable, may be implemented using avariety of different information processing systems. For example,although FIG. 1 and the discussion thereof describe an exemplarycommunication system, this exemplary communication system is presentedmerely to provide a useful reference in discussing various aspects ofthe invention. Of course, the description of the communication systemhas been simplified for purposes of discussion, and it is just one ofmany different types of appropriate communication systems that may beused in accordance with the invention. In addition, although theinvention is described herein with reference to specific embodiments,various modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are describedherein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to beconstrued as a critical, required, or essential feature or element ofany or all the claims.

The term “coupled,” as used herein, is not intended to be limited to adirect coupling or a mechanical coupling.

Furthermore, the terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as oneor more than one. Also, the use of introductory phrases such as “atleast one” and “one or more” in the claims should not be construed toimply that the introduction of another claim element by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim element to inventions containing only one such element,even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more”or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an.” The sameholds true for the use of definite articles.

Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used toarbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus,these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or otherprioritization of such elements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: at a wireless communicationdevice: receiving a first subframe at a first time including anindication of a second subframe to be received at a second timesubsequent to the first time; receiving the second subframe at thesecond time, wherein the second subframe comprises a control portionthat includes a plurality of resource elements corresponding to aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a shared portion thatincludes a plurality of resource elements corresponding to a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH), wherein each resource element of theplurality of resource elements corresponding to the PDSCH is defined bya time slot and a subcarrier frequency; determining whether the secondsubframe includes a grant resource that indicates that the sharedportion of the second subframe includes a resource element pattern thatis selectively assigned to the wireless communication device, whereineach resource element pattern is comprised of the plurality of resourceelements corresponding to the PDSCH; and determining the time slot andsubcarrier frequency for each resource element in the selectivelyassignable resource element pattern, wherein the selectively assignableresource element pattern is one of a plurality of selectively assignableresource element patterns suitable for the wireless communication deviceat the second time.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: whenthe second subframe includes the grant resource that indicates that theshared portion of the second subframe includes the resource elementpattern that is selectively assigned to the wireless communicationdevice, decoding the resource element pattern that is selectivelyassigned to the wireless communication device to obtain information,wherein the information obtained is for a single voice call.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectively assignableresource element patterns includes a resource element pattern thatprovides a maximum gain for the wireless communication device.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resource elementscorresponding to the PDCCH are mapped up to a first three OFDMA symbols.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to the receiving ofthe second subframe, placing receiving circuitry of the wirelesscommunication device in an operating mode; and subsequent to thereceiving of the second subframe and before receiving a furthersubframe, placing the receiving circuitry in a low power mode, whereinthe further subframe is related to the first subframe and the secondsubframe.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the secondsubframe includes an identification of at least a single subcarrierfrequency and of at least a single time slot.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the resource elements corresponding to the PDSCH are defined byat least a single time slot and at least a single subcarrier frequency.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource element pattern isassigned to the PDSCH based on at least one of currently availablesubcarriers and time slots, a type of data transfer or a quality ofservice requirement of the wireless communication device.
 9. The methodof claim 1, wherein the first subframe includes a grant resource,wherein the grant resource is one of a persistent grant or asemi-persistent grant.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the plurality of selectively assignable resource element patterns isbased on a frequency hopping scheme.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe resource element pattern includes information for the wirelesscommunication device and does not include information for a furtherwireless communication device.
 12. A wireless communication devicecomprising: a receiver configured to receive a first subframe at a firsttime including an indication of a second subframe to be received at asecond time subsequent to the first time and to receive the secondsubframe at the second time, wherein the second subframe comprises acontrol portion that includes a plurality of resource elementscorresponding to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and ashared portion that includes a plurality of resource elementscorresponding to a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), whereineach resource element of the plurality of resource elementscorresponding to the PDSCH is defined by a time slot and a subcarrierfrequency; a processor configured to determine whether the secondsubframe includes a grant resource that indicates that the sharedportion of the second subframe includes a resource element pattern thatis selectively assigned to the wireless communication device, whereineach resource element pattern is comprised of the plurality of resourceelements corresponding to the PDSCH and the processor is furtherconfigured to determine the time slot and subcarrier frequency for eachresource element in the selectively assignable resource element pattern,wherein the selectively assignable resource element pattern is one of aplurality of selectively assignable resource element patterns suitablefor the wireless communication device at the second time.
 13. The deviceof claim 12, further comprising: a decoder configured to decode thesecond subframe to obtain information when the second subframe includesthe grant resource that indicates that that the shared portion of thesecond subframe includes the resource element pattern that isselectively assigned to the wireless communication device, wherein theinformation obtained is for a single voice call.
 14. The device of claim12, wherein: prior to the receiving of the second subframe, the receiverof the wireless communication device is placed in an operating mode, andsubsequent to receiving the second subframe, the receiver of thewireless communication device is placed in a low power mode.
 15. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the plurality of selectively assignableresource element patterns includes a resource element pattern thatprovides a maximum gain for the wireless communication device.
 16. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of resource elementpatterns includes a plurality of resource elements defined by a singlesubcarrier frequency.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein the firstsubframe further provides an indication of the resource element patternselectively assigned to the wireless communication device.
 18. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of selectivelyassignable resource element patterns is based on a frequency hoppingscheme.
 19. The device of claim 14, further comprising: a transmitterconfigured to transmit a channel feedback information to a base station,wherein the first subframe and the second subframe are sent to thewireless communication device from the base station and subsequent toreceiving the first subframe, the wireless communication device measuresthe channel feedback information and subsequent to receiving the secondsubframe, while the receiver of the wireless communication device is inlow power mode, the transmitter transmits the channel feedbackinformation to the base station, and wherein the wireless communicationdevice receives a further subframe from the base station comprising oneof the plurality of selectively assignable resource element patternsthat was assigned to the wireless communication device based on thechannel feedback information.
 20. An integrated circuit, comprising:receiving circuitry to receive a first subframe at a first timeincluding an indication of a second subframe to be received at a secondtime subsequent to the first time and to receive the second subframe atthe second time, wherein the second subframe comprises a control portionthat includes a plurality of resource elements corresponding to aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a shared portion thatincludes a plurality of resource elements corresponding to a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH), wherein each resource element of theplurality of resource elements corresponding to the PDSCH is defined bya time slot and a subcarrier frequency; grant resource determiningcircuitry to determine whether the second subframe includes a grantresource that indicates that the shared portion of the second subframeincludes a resource element pattern that is selectively assigned to theintegrated circuit, wherein each resource element pattern is comprisedof the plurality of resource elements corresponding to the PDSCH; andtime slot and subcarrier frequency determining circuitry to determinethe time slot and subcarrier frequency for each resource element patternin the selectively assignable resource element pattern, wherein theselectively assignable resource element pattern is one of a plurality ofselectively assignable resource element patterns suitable for theintegrated circuit at the second time.